Coop being upgraded, is there anything that could be improved?

[Sussex19]

So I had a thread on my coop before, https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-does-my-coop-look.1548443/ but now due ever growing chicken numbers, (I am trying, I really am, but its so hard!) my dad offered to extend it for me.
This is how it looks now, (a bit messy because I hadn't got round to cleaning it out yet, and I haven't put the litter in to keep it easier to work on) the old nesting boxes are going to go back on the front, and the new roosts at the front are going to be in a slightly different position, and a bit higher up.
Also, before winter hits, it needs one more solid wall adding on the right, so its not so much of a wind tunnel.
Any advice, or points you can think of before it is all done?

 

[cavemanrich]

Looks good.
How cold are your winters?? Also,, do you have a run area, ,or do your chickens free-range.

 

[Sussex19]

How cold are your winters??

It gets down to around -10C, at the very coldest. It only gets that cold on the very still nights, so never that cold and windy at the same time.
Maybe some snow once a year, usually rather dry winters on the whole.

Also,, do you have a run area, ,or do your chickens free-range.

Kind of both, there is quite a small fully enclosed run on the other side, which they only stay in about once a week or less. (just when we all go out to town) Other than that, they have two rather large mostly fenced in areas, not predator proof, just to keep them out of the garden, which they 'free range' around.

Do you think this coop will be ok in those temps?
I have never seen them looking cold in that coop before, but they often looked hot, thus why we thought such an open design would be good.

Thank you very much for you help!

 

[cavemanrich]

Do you think this coop will be ok in those temps?

Those temps are not that bad. What is more important than temerature,, is a draft free roost area. Ventilation is of course very important, so create a roost area that is well below the open ventilation area,,, that should be on the roofline.
You can have removable panels on your coop walls to achieve this during cold winter time. During HOT summer time, remove panels, and let breeze cool your chickens.

 

[Sussex19]

Those temps are not that bad. What is more important than temerature,, is a draft free roost area. Ventilation is of course very important, so create a roost area that is well below the open ventilation area,,, that should be on the roofline.
You can have removable panels on your coop walls to achieve this during cold winter time. During HOT summer time, remove panels, and let breeze cool your chickens.

I thought one could have a an open air coop? Or have I got something wrong?
And chickens roost in trees in the wild...
When I get that one more wall on the right side, there will not be any really draft, just plenty of open air.

And even though it had quite a lot of ventilation before, they just always looked like they thought it was too hot and stuffy, even in not hot weather.

 

[cavemanrich]

I thought one could have a an open air coop? Or have I got something wrong?

Open air coop is fine,,, but if you encounter temps during winter as you stated, that Is why I suggested removable panels to be available for those times.
The chickens that roost in trees in the wild, are in warm climates generally. In colder areas, they will go into deeper part of forest,, where the wind is not much blowing.
If you look up Woods coops, you will see that they are cold weather coops. They have one side completely open,(screened with hardware clothe) Other 3 walls are closed off during cold. They do have windows that can be opened during mild weather on the side walls. The draft does not enter the back of a Woods coop, due to the distance inside. The chickens roost at the far wall opposite the open wall. That distance is about 3 meters.

 

[Sussex19]

Open air coop is fine,,, but if you encounter temps during winter as you stated, that Is why I suggested removable panels to be available for those times.
The chickens that roost in trees in the wild, are in warm climates generally. In colder areas, they will go into deeper part of forest,, where the wind is not much blowing.
If you look up Woods coops, you will see that they are cold weather coops. They have one side completely open,(screened with hardware clothe) Other 3 walls are closed off during cold. They do have windows that can be opened during mild weather on the side walls. The draft does not enter the back of a Woods coop, due to the distance inside. The chickens roost at the far wall opposite the open wall. That distance is about 3 meters.

Ok, got it!
That makes sense.
There is no hurry, as temps will still be high for quite a while yet, but I'll bring it up with my dad, and see what can be done.